Punching and reinforcing machine



May 5, 1964 D. D. Koss PUNCHING AND REINFORCING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 14, 1961 1 INVENTOR. DHAAAZL PAW/4 K055 ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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PUNCHING AND REINFORCING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. 09/4 /4262! m/v/a K033" r wars May 5, 1964 n. D. Koss PUNCHING AND REINFORCING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 14, 1961 P .m M a m h ME 5 .r 9 mm uim m M R m r U :WL. A m 5 1 Q g United States Patent 3,132,063 PUNCHING AND REINFORCING MACHINE Darrell D. Koss, R0. Box 15365, Lakewood, Colo. Filed July 14, 1961, Ser. No. 124,213 7 Claims. (Cl. 156-'513) This invention relates to machinesfor punching and reinforcing sheet material.

Certain sheet material, such as sheets of paper which are to be mounted or assembled in loose-leaf type binders, has a peripheral side portion or edge punched or perforated to form a plurality of spaced apertures for mounting over'the retaining rings or posts of the binders. It has been the practice to form these apertures individually with a hand punch or with a machine which simultaneously punches the desired plurality of apertures. It has, also, been the practice to strengthen or reinforce the sheetmaterial about the apertures to overcome the tendency'of such punched sheets totear through the apertures. gummed fasteners; and it has been attempted with both drying and non-drying gummed strip material carried by a punching machine. The strip material has had a propensity to stick to adjacent machine parts and feed unevenly, thereby clogging the machine. The machines using drying type gummed strip require a water supply and tend to dry making the machine unusable. Pressure sensitive or non-drying gummed strip material machines have been suggested but none have found public acceptance.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedmachine for punching sheet material and which is adapted to selectively reinforce punched apertures in the punched sheets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for punching sheet material which is adapted to punch sheets in a plurality of different aperture patterns; and to duplicate said patterns in a plurality of different sheets of thesame or. different size.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for punching a plurality of apertures in sheet material and to apply a thin film of reinforcing material about each aperture; which film has a thin layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on one face; and said machine being adapted to supply multiple increments of such strip material to each of a plurality of punching positions through a plurality of punching operations.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel carriage and feeding arrangement for strip supplies of reinforcing film which prevents machine clogging by accidental contact between the film adhesive and adjacent machine parts.

In carrying out the objects, in one embodiment, a punching and reinforcing machine according to the invention includes three punching and reinforcing stations arranged to be selectively positioned across a sheetreceiving mouth, and all the foregoing mounted in a lightweight, portable housing. Means are provided for selectively metering and feeding of the reinforcing film, punching of the material, and cutting of the reinforcing film into even increments at selected punching stations.

The sheet-receiving mouth includes a lower lip for positioning a plurality of different sheets and, in cooperation with the punching and reinforcing stations, to exactly duplicate the spacing of apertures in sequential sheet punching and reinforcing operations.

' Another feature of the invention is that each of the punching and reinforcing stations includes a structure which embosses and manipulates thin strip film reinforcing material to give it stiffness or rigidity in an extended positionie. in a self-supporting position.

Such reinforcing has been. done with individual" Further features, and other objects and advantages of.

1 punching and reinforcing machines according to the concepts of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings in which like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in several views.

In vthe drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a punching machine constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation in partial section of'the machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 of an end, or side, punching and reinforcing station;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2 of a central punching and reinforcing station;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the lower lip of the sheetreceiving mouth of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top elevation of mechanism associated with the central punching station of FIGS. 2 and 4 by which the central punching and reinforcing station is selectively actuated;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the mechanism of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are top and front elevations of the mechanism of FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively, in an actuated operating position;

FIGS. 10, 11, l2, l3 and 14 are sequential stages of operation of a punching and reinforcing station of the mechanism of FIG. 2, with various parts sequentially omitted and/ or partially shown, or'shown in dashed lines for simplicity of explanation;

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a portion of a punching and reinforcing station, showing an arrangement for holding, manipulating and embossing reinforcing film strcilp material to impart rigidity in an extended position; an

FIG. 16 is a view along the line 16-16 in FIG. 15. 'A punching and reinforcing machine according to the invention is preferably enclosed Within a housing 20 having a sheet-receiving mouth 21 formed through a forward wall 22 above an upwardly sloping guide surface 23. A lip 24 extends across the lower boundary of mouth 21 and has stepped portions 24a and 24b, respectively, at each end. The dimensions of the stepped portions are substantially identical and the distance between complementary steps provides a centering guide for various commercially available sheets of paper. The arrangement of steps is best seen in FIG. 5. For example, the distance between the steps 25c and 25d could be 8 /2 inches, or slightly more, to receive sheets of paper which are 8 /2 inches wide and to center and guide each sheet to punching stations. An external knob 26 onone side wall of the housing is for adjusting the spacing. between punching and reinforcing stations, as described below and is calibrated for exact duplication of such spacing in subsequent punching operations; and handle 27, in one form, controls all the punching and reinforc ing operations of the mechanism within the housing. 4

There are preferably three punching and reinforcing Patented May 5, 1964 ing the punching and reinforcing stations 30 and 31 to move equal increments of distance in opposite irections. A knob 34 at the opposite end likewise may be used to rotate the adjusting screw 33. Passing centrally of adjusting screw 33 and through knob 34 is a movable rod 35. Adjacent on internal end portion of rod 35 and adapted to pass through the slot 36 formed in a wall of adjusting screw 33 isa pin 37. Pin 37 passes between the tines of bifurcated member 38 and is adapted to move that member back and forth, thereby actuating and deactuating the central punching and reinforcing station 31 as described below.

,The handle 27 is attached with or an integral part of a control arm 39. Opposite end portions of control arm 39 include parallel and duplicate plates 40 and 41, respectively, having similar cam apertures 45 and 46 formed therethrough which are adapted to cause predetermined plate movement when passed in camming relation with the fixed wheels 47 and 48, respectively. The wheels 47 and 48 are preferably flanged for greater control of the said camming relation. An upper rear portion of each plate is apertured to receive one of the sliding guide rods 49 or 50. Guide rod. 50 has its lateral movement limited moved downwardly in a punching action by the control arm 39 against the action of a spring 55a. Each punch 55 is arranged to depress a cutter element 56 in a cutting action to sever increments of strip reinforcing fihn.

A tape dispenser cartridge 57 is movably mounted in a tape dispenser housing 58 at eachpunching and reinforcing station. A tape dispenser carrier 59 is adapted to move a cartridge 57 within its respective housing 58 under the influence of a tensioning spring 60 when the counterbalance member 65 is moved. Each punching and relnforcing stationincludes one of these counterbalance members 65. The counterbalance members 65 are arranged to prevent forward movement of the carrier 59" and thus the cartridge 57 unless tripped by a sheet of paper, or the like, being inserted into the machine throughthe receiving mouth.

Each station further includes an'actuator bar 66 and a downwardly opening, generally U-shaped thrust bar 67. The thrust bars and the actuator bars are apertured so that all are mounted for movement with therespective sliding guide rods 49 and 50, as discusssed below.

When a counterbalance member 65 is tripped, a lifting or upward rotation of control arm 39 by handle 27 lifts actuator bar 66 to release. the cartridges 57 which pass reinforcing fihn over an inserted sheet. The action of the central station is somewhat different, as noted above, since it is capable of beingdeactuated. However, when actuated it moves as do the end ones, under control of the foregoing rotation of control arm 39. By reversing rotation or movement of handle 27 and thus control arm 39, the thrust bars 67 control and cause punching, cutting or severing of the reinforcing film, and return of the cartridges to an inoperative position while the forward or extended ends of the strips of reinforcing film are fixed to the sheet being punched by pressure from apertured rubber pads 68 carried by pressure bars 69 above surface 81a. Since the forward end of the strips are held fixed while the cartridges are moved to the rear, and this rearward movement occurs before severing an increment from the strip, upon completion of a punching operation the next increment of film has been drawn from the respective cartridges, as will be more apparent, below.

In describing the sequential cooperation between the foregoing parts, reference is had to FIGS. 3 and 4 and,

then FIGS. 6 through 9. In addition to the parallel 4 plates 40 and 410m the opposite ends of the control arm 39, there are a pair of parallel center members '75 and 76 which bracket the central punching and reinforcing station 31. The members 75 and 76 have .three fingers, finger 77 extending forwardly, from adjacent the top of the member, and joining a rear portionof control arm 39; one finger 78 extends upwardly and is adapted for rotation about one of the sliding guide rods (since FIG. 4 is a View of the left side, guide rod 49 is shown); and the other finger 79 rotates about a pin 80 fixed to the side of one of the stationary housings 81. Each of the punching and reinforcing stations has one of these housings 81. Each of the housings 81 is tubular at its forward end 1 having a-flat upper surface 81;: and being apertured in alignment with the aperture of a pad 68 to allow passage of a punch. 55 (as shown in station 32, FIG. 2) in a punching relationship. A rear portion 81b of housings 81 is open at its top and its side wall defines a passage through which the tape dispenser carriers 59 move. The rear edge of the flat,-upper surface 81a cooperates with a cutter member 56 in a severing or cutting action by which increments of, reinforcing film are separated from the' rolled strip supply thereof.

9 A rear edge portion of eachtape dispenser housing 58 has a bumper 82 adapted to limit forward movement of the tape dispenser cartridges 57, as follows. The tape dispenser carriers are somewhat in the nature of open top drawers into which the cartridges 57 are selectively positioned. The rear wall of each of the carriers abuts against a contained cartridge in an action by which the cartridges are moved forward when the carriers are moved forward under the action of the tension springs 60 to which they'are attached. Therear wall has a portion which extends to the sides of the cartridges and which are arranged to abut the bumpers 82, thereby stopping forward movement of the carriers andco'ntained cartridges.

As noted above, the members 75 and 76 which bracket the central station 31 are attachedv through a finger 77 to the control arm 39 and thus will move whenever control arm 39 moves about the fixed 'pin 80. Unless the central station is actuated, however, no punching will occur. Reference to FIGS. 6 through. 9 more clearly shows this.

Centrally of control arm- 39 is a slot 91. Passing beneath the slot is an upwardly curving discriminator assembly 90. An arcuate slot 92 opens through an edge of discriminator assembly directly above the top of punch 55, when the central station is inoperative. Discriminator assembly 90 is attached to the bifurcated member 33'. As noted above, bifurcated member 38 encompasses pin 37 which is attached to an end of rod 35, thus, in and out lateral movement of rod 35 moves the bifurcated member 38 and also discriminator assembly 90 laterally. Further, a depending discriminator flange 90a against which lock washer52 abuts causes lateral movement of sliding guide rod 49 during lateral movement of the discriminator assembly 90. For example, movement of rod 35 to the right as viewed in FIG. .7 causes sliding guide rod 49 to abut the end of sliding guide rod 50 while passing through the camslot 66a (seen best in FIG. 4),-thereby operatively engaging actuator bar 66. Simultaneously, the discriminator assembly is passed over the top of punch 55 (FIG. 8). If handle 27 is thenmoved upwardly, control arm 39 is similarly moved upwardly and actuator bar 66 will be engaged as discussed below. Subsequent downward movement of control arm 39 causes the control arm to press onthe discriminator assembly 90, which in turn depresses punch 55, thereby punching a sheet inserted therebeneath.

- aligned slots 91 and 92 merely pass over it.

sequentially describing the operation of a punching and reinforcing station and the cooperation betweenparts (FIGS. through 14); when handle 27 is lifted upwardly, control arm 39 rotates about rods 33 and 35, lifts sliding guide rod 49 which in turn lifts actuator bar 66, but only when a sheet of paper has been inserted into the machine to trip the actuator 65. When a sheet of paper P is inserted into the sheet-receiving mouth of the machine, the counterbalance member 65 is tripped. Counterbalance member 65 has a flange 65a which is adapted to pass over flange 6617 on the actuator bar. Thus, after a sheet of paper P has been inserted, when lifting actuator bar 66, a pin 100 passing through the counter-, balance member 65 and into slot 66c in actuator bar 66 is raised which simultaneously rotates cartridge retaining member 101 about pin 102. The foregoing action raises flange 103 of cartridge retaining member-101 above the tape dispenser cartridge 57, allowing it to slide for- Ward on'tape dispenser carrier 59 under the influence of tension spring 60 (FIGS. 10 and 11), placing tape T above paper P.

Rearward rotation of control arm 39 about arms 33 and 35 presses tape T onto paper P while raised portion 105 formed in control arm 39 presses against the top of punch 55. Simultaneously, cam slot 45 in plate 40 engages roller 47 and moves sliding guide rod 49 which passes through slot 67a in thrust bar 67, to thereby move the thrust bar to the rear. A fixed pin 110 at the rear of thrust bar,67 moves through slot 111 in housing 81 and engages a for- Ward edge of tape dispenser carrier 57, thereby moving it to the: rear against the action of spring 60 (FIGS. 12 and Since tape T is held in fixed position on the paper, as cartridge 57 moves to the rear an additional reinforcing increment of tape is withdrawn from the cartridge. Simultaneously therewith, control arm 39 presses punch 55 through apertured pad 68, tape T, paper P, and into the aperture through surface 81a, thereby punching and reinforcing an inserted sheet of paper. Simultaneously therewith, cutter 56 passes in severing relation with the rear edge of surface 81a and severs a reinforcing increment of tape. Immediately upon completion of the foregoing, and when cartridge. 57 is at its furtherest position to the rear, flange 103 is lowered into position in front of cartridge 57. Rlease of handle 27, releasing control arm 39, moves pin 110 forwardly releasing cartridge 57 which moves forward under the action of tension spring 60 until it abuts flange 103 where it is locked in position for the next reinforcing operation.

During the above backward movement of cartridge 57, in which reinforcing film or tape is being withdrawn from the cartridge roll and before a reinforcing increment of tape is severed, the tape so withdrawn is embossed in an arcuate configuration towardthe adhesive side. Referring to FIGS. 15. and 16, a forward portion of each of the dispensing cartridges has a downwardly opening arcuate feeding channel 120 forwardly of a tape guide bar 119 which assists in aligned feeding of tape T from rolled strip supply R to channel 120. Joining lower edges of the channel 120 is an upwardly curving plate 121. A plurality of upright pins or teeth 122 extend from memher 121 to slightly below the inner surface of channel 120. Tape T, which passes beneath the plate 120 and above pins 122, is embossed by these pins which laterally curves the tape. This embossed arcuate configuration imparts rigidity to the tape and permits it to maintain an extended position without curling, as shown in FIG. 15.

While I have shown arcuate channel 120 as in a downwardly opening position, it is of course to be understood it could open upwardly, since the crux of the arrangement is the embossing and curving of the tape to impart rigidity to it in an extended position. FIG. 16 indicates most clearly the manner in which the foregoing action occurs and inverting those parts will still accomplish the desired action.

Thus, upon the next cycle and when handle 27 is lifted (thereby raising actuator bar 66'with thecommensurate release of the locking member 101) cartridge 57 moves forwardly and positions a stretch of tape above paper P and below pad 68 for the reinforcing operation.

The foregoing embossing arrangement by which stiflness in extended position is imparted to tape is important in my inventive concepts. The film which I prefer to use is a plastic known as Mylar tape which is extremely thin and yet has great tensile strength. However, unless stiffness is imparted to the film it tends to sag or curl and sticks to adjacent machine parts, thereby clogging tie mechanism. My embossingarrangement overcomes t 's. i

The foregoingapparatus constructedaccording to my inventive concepts not only provides a simple and easilyoperated mechanism, which, is adapted, to punch and reinforce paper in a single operation, but it includes a feature of lock out for certain operating parts, to thereby prevent dispensing of tape except when a sheet of paper has been inserted into the machine. Further, this same machine is adapted for only perforating paper or other sheet material if it is not desired to reinforce it.

As noted in the foregoing discussion, an upward movement must be imparted to handle 27 and control arm 39, in order that the cartridge 57 may be released. However, when the handle 27 is only rotated downwardly, thereby moving control arm 39 in a similar direction, the punches 55 are actuated without any reinforcing tape beingdispensed.

This same machine provides a system for deactuating one of the punching elements, by which only two holes are formed in a given sheet of material. This is a desirable adjunct to my invention since many loose leaf binders have but tWo posts or rings.

By the provision of a novel sheet-receiving mouth with a calibrated lower lip, a plurality of various commercially available sheetsizes are easily positioned, punched and reinforced with my machine without the necessity of a cut-and-try method, in order to properly align subsequently punched sheets to prevent overhang, etc. when assembled in a binder.

It is obvious from the foregoing discussion that changes of design and cooperation between some of the elements of the exemplary drawings may be varied and still be within my inventive concepts. However, such other ar rangements must have a movable cartridge which is adapted to cooperate with other'parts to withdraw and emboss an increment of reinforcing strip material, as a punching operation proceeds, thereby readying the machine for the next punching and reinforcing operation without further manipulation of machine parts. I

Having thus described my invention with sufficient particularity and detail as to enable those skilled in the art to practice it, what I desire to have protected by Letter Patent is set forth in the following claims. a

I claim:

1. A machine for punching and reinforcing sheet material having at least one punching and reinforcingstation spaced relatively to a sheet-receiving mouth, said station including a rolled strip supply of reinforcing tape arranged to feed increments of tape for reinforcing an edge portion of the sheet material, and said station including punch means for perforating the reinforced sheet and severing means to sever a reinforcing increment from the strip supply, the improvement which comprises a reciprocally movable carrier for said strip supply movable from a rear portion to a forward position and arranged to selectively position an increment of tape in the punching and severing portion of the station superposed with sheet material therein, said station including pressure pad means adapted to engage an end portion of a fed increment pressing a portion of said extended increment into said edge portion of a sheet, and actuating means for substantially simultaneously imparting rearward movement to the carrier, thereby drawing another increment of tapefrom said strip supply.

- 2.. A machine for punching and reinforcing sheet material having at least one punching and reinforcing station spaced relatively to a sheet-receiving month, said station including a rolled strip supply of reinforcing tape arranged to feed increments of tape for reinforcing an edge portion of the sheet material, and said station including punch means for perforating the reinforced sheet and severing means to sever a reinforcing increment from the strip supply, theimprovement which comprises a reciprocally movable carrier for said strip supply movable from a rear to a forward position and arranged to selectively position an extending increment of tape in the punching and severing portion of the station juxtaposed with sheet material therein, said station including pressure pad means adapted to press an end portion of the extending increment into reinforcing contact with an edge portion of sheet material therein, actuating means interconnected with said pressure pad means and to said carrier for substantially simultaneously imparting rearward movement to the carrier to draw another increment of tape from said strip supply while pressing said pressure pad means on the end of said extending increment, and means movable with the carrier for embossing drawn out tape to impart rigidity thereto in'an extended position.

3. A machine for punching and reinforcing sheet material having at least one punching and reinforcing station spaced relatively to a sheet-receiving mouth, a rolled strip supply of reinforcing tape at said station adapted to feed increments of tape to the punching portion of the station, and means for actuating said station, the improvement which. comprises a reciprocally movable carrier for said rolled strip supply including an extended increment,

' said extended increment of reinforcing tape being movable with said carrier to juxtaposition with an edge of held sheet material, trigger means positioned to be contacted by sheet material inserted in said mouth and interconnected with said actuating means, said actuating means movable into gripping relation witha forward end of the extended tape and operably associated with said carrier to move it rearwardly in an action by which a further incrementof tape is withdrawn from the strip supply, and means operably associated with said actuating means to thereafter sever the fed increment and punch an aperture through the severed increment attached the sheet material.

4. The machine of claim 3 in which the actuating means includes a single externally accessible handle.

5. A machine for punching and reinforcing sheet material having at least one punching and reinforcing station spaced relatively to a sheet-receiving mouth, a rolled strip'supply of reinforcing tape at said station adapted to feed increments of tape to the punching portion of the station, and means for actuating said station, the improvement which comprises a reciprocally movable carrier for said rolled strip supply movable from a rear to a forward position to selectively feed an, extended increment of reinforcing tape to the punching station upon initial actuation by said actuating means, pressure pad means associated with said actuating means for gripping a forward end of the extended tape, means associated with said actuating means for moving thecarrier rearwardly in an action by which a further increment of tape is withdrawn from the strip supply, and means associated with said actuating means to thereafter sever the fed increment and punch an aperture through the severed increment attached to the sheet material, locking means to selectively lock said carrier in its rearward position, counterbalance means adjacent a said station adapted to be tripped when a sheet is inserted, and said counterbalance means adapted to cooperate with said actuating means to release said locking means and release said carn'er in subsequent reinforcing operations.

6. A machine for punching and reinforcing sheet material having three punching and reinforcing stations spaced relatively to a sheet-receiving mouth, a rolled strip-supply of reinforcing tape at each said station adapted to feed increments of tape to the punching portion of said stations, and means for actuating said stations,

the improvement which comprises a movable carrier for said rolled strip supply movable from a rear to a forward position to selectively feed an extended increment of reinforcing tape to each punching station upon initial movement by said actuating means, said actuating means being interconnected with'a pressure pad at each station for gripping of a forward end of the extended tape, means operably associated with said actuating means for moving said carrier rearwardly in an action by which a further increment of tape is withdrawn from the strip supply, means interconnected with said. actuating means to thereafter sever the fed increment and punch an aperture through the severed increment and the sheet material, means interconnected with said actuating means adapted to'selectively deactuate one said station, and means cooperating with the other two stations adapted to simultaneously move them equal distances in opposite directions. i

7. The machine of claim 6 in which the means for moving the other two stations includes calibrations in order that relative spacing between said two other stations may be duplicated in subsequent punching operations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A MACHINE FOR PUNCHING AND REINFORCING SHEET MATERIAL HVING AT LEAST ONE PUNCHING AND REINFORCING STATION SPACED RELATIVELY TO A SHEET-RECEIVING MOUTH, SAID STATION INCLUDING A ROLLED STRIP SUPPLY OF REINFORCING TAPE ARRANGED TO FEED INCREMENTS OF TAPE FOR REINFORCING AN EDGE PORTIN OF THE SHEET MATERIAL, AND SAID STATION INCLUDING PUNCH MEANS FOR PERFORATING THE REINFORCED SHEET AND SEVERING MEANS TO SEVER A REINFORCING INCREMENT FROM THE STRIP SUPPLY, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A RECIPROCALLY MOVABLE CARRIER FOR SAID STRIP SUPPLY MOVABLE FROM A REAR PORTION TO A FORWARD POSITION AND ARRANGED TO SELECTIVELY POSITIN AN INCREMENT OF TAPE IN THE PUNCHING AND SEVERING PORTION OF THE STATION SUPERPOSED WITH SHEET MATERIAL THEREIN, SAID STATION INCLUDING PRESSURE PAD MEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AN END PORTIN OF A FED INCREMENT PRESSING A ORTIN OF SAID EXTENDED INCREMENT INTO SAID EDGE PORTION OF A SHEET, AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPARTING REARWARD MOVEMENT TO THE CARRIER ,THEREBY DRAWING ANOTHER INCREMENT OF TAPE FROM SAID STRIP SUPPLY. 